Slab



E. GRAY.

July 21,1942.

Filed Aug. 16, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO Zma/LueZ argy- BY d- P ORNEY July 21, 1942.

E. GRAY SLAB 3 Sheet s-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1940 INVEBTOR f'l'i/dd/ZZZ 02 672 1 TORNEY Patented July 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLAB Emanuel Gray, New York, N. Y.

Application August 16, 1940, Serial No. 352,839

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a slab suitable for use as a floor or wall portion or as a grating and has for an object to provide a simple device of this class which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide such a slab in which the spacing portions of the reinforce or grating are formed out of the longitudinal members.

A further object is to provide a slab or grating in which the tendency to the formation of rust has been reduced by a reduction in the extent of contacting surfaces.

Still another object is to provide a slab, in which when cementitious material is filled in between longitudinal bars, such material is keyed across a discontinuous top or outer surface of the bars.

Referring to the drawings I Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of another embodiment.

Fig. 3 shows still another form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a detail or" one of the longitudinal members having spacing portions intermediate the top and bottom edges.

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. l in which the left end of the slab is mounted over a support or wall.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a view showing a modified type of construction in which the longitudinal bars have spacing members adjacent both their top and bottom edges.

Fig. 8 shows another arrangement possible with this invention.

Fig. 9 illustrates a further embodiment.

Fig. 10 represents a design which is possible when the spacing members are not all bent in the same direction.

Figs. 11 to 16 illustrate still other arrangements or modifications possible with this invention.

Fig. 1'7 illustrates a construction in which the spacing members are overlapped to a substantial extent and secured together.

Fig. 18 is another arrangement in which the spacing members are overlapped but do not all extend in the same direction,

Fig. 19 is also a construction in which the spacing members are overlapped.

Fig. 20 is a section on the line 20-20 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 21 shows a wall construction embodying a modification according to Fig. 7. i

Fig. 22 illustrates the splice for the grating or slab.

Fig. 23 is a section on the line 2323 of Fig. 22.

In Fig. 1 the longitudinal members or bars Ii] are generally parallel but the spacing members II are formed by stamping out a portion of the upper edge of the longitudinal bars and bending the stamped out portions so that they extend toward an adjacent longitudinal bar It. In Fig. 1 the spacing members I I all extend in the same general direction and are substantially parallel. The portion or edge from which the spacing bars have been stamped constitutes a countersunk portion l2 which in the embodiment illustrated serves as a support on which the end of a spacing member from an adjacent longitudinal member may rest. The spacing bars are bent at 22 and their bends may be arranged in the manner illustrated. The vertical edge portions l3 between the top or outer edge and the countersunk edge I2 are preferably bent at an angle to the longitudinal bars as illustrated so that the end of the spacing bar may be conveniently welded to the vertical edge [3. Preferably there is a projection and recess type connection between the spacing bars H and the bent edge portions l3. It is of minor importance whether the projection I4 is on the spacing bar or on the bent edge portion l3, so long as the cooperating part has a complementary recess 15 or projection.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated a construction in which the spacing members Ila are bent at substantially a right angle with respect to the longitudinal members 10a. In this embodiment the projection I6 is located on the longitudinal member, that is, on the vertical edge portion [3a. of the longitudinal member Iiia and the spacing members Ila are each provided with a cooperating recess II. In the form illustrated the projection and recess are shown as being of dove tail shape, it being necessary to move one longitudinal member longitudinally to a slight extent with respect to its cooperating member in order to engage the projection and recess. In both Figs. 1 and 2 the spacing'members have their end portions resting on the countersunk edges l2 and 12a. Also in these embodiments the spacing members are not adapted to engage the cooperating edge portions by merely bending and securing them in place without relative longitudinal movement between the bars l0 and [0a, such relative movement between the longitudinal bars It) being necessary in order to engage the projection recess connections.

In Fig. 3 is shown a construction quite similar to that in Fig. 2 except that the spacing bars are bent in a different direction and the projection |6b is located on the longitudinal members Illb while the recess III) is formed on the end of the spacing members llb.

Another construction is exemplified in Fig. 4 in which the longitudinal members 100 have the spacing portions I I stamped and bent, not from a top or bottom edge but from an intermediate portion of the longitudinal bar lllc. In this case the spacing member He is provided with a projection l8 for engagement in the recess portion IQ of the adjacent longitudinal bar lilo with which it cooperates.

Fig. 5 shows a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but in which an end of the slab rests on a support or wall 20. When this is done the top edges of the lon itudinal members may be countersunk as at 2! below the surface of cementitious material constituting a support, such cementitious material preferably being flush with the top edges of the longitudinal bars; or, if desired, the top edges of the longitudinal members may not be countersunk but allowed to extend up through and be flush with the cementitious material over the supporting wall.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the device of Fig. 1. As is shown hereinafter the spacing portions H need not always extend at either the same angle to the longitudinal members nor in the same direction since, by varying the direction in which the spacing bars extend, different designs are possible as may be seen from the second sheet of drawings in this disclosure.

Fig. '7 exemplifies a modification of Fig. 1 in that the spacing bars are not only arranged at the top or outer edge of the longitudinal members, but also are provided at the lower or inner edge with the result that an unusually strong and durable construction is made possible. The spacing portions 23 at the lower part of the longitudinal members may or may not be of the same construction as the spacing bars at the top portion of the longitudinal members. For the sake of ease in fabrication and erection, it is desirable to have these spacing bars at both the top and bottom of substantially the same shape and extent.

The spacing bars in each of the foregoing constructions are preferably spot or fusion welded to the longitudinal bar with which they cooperate, or welded to the bent edge portion l3 of such longitudinal bar. The advantage in having the vertical edge portion I3 bent away from the plane of the longitudinal bar is that it enables the countersunk edge to provide a satisfactory support for the adjacent end portion of the spacing members.

In Figs. 8 and 9 are shown constructions possible with this invention and in which the spacing portions all extend in the same direction and are at right angles to the longitudinal members.

In Figs. 10 and 11 for example the spacing portions do not all extend in the same direction with the result that the general design illustrated is made possible.

Figs. 12 to 16 illustrate still further embodiments of this invention. In Figs. 15 and 16 the spacing members do not engage a vertical edge of the longitudinal bars but are preferably provided with one or more projections to engage cooperative recesses in the longitudinal members.

In Fig. 1'7 the stamped out portions of the longitudinal bars extend in diiferent directions. Contiguous spacing bars are overlapped and either welded or riveted together,

Fig. '18 shows another arrangement in which the spacing bars are overlapped and not parallel.

Fig. 19 shows still another construction in which the overlapped spacing members are at right angles to the longitudinal bars.

In Fig. 20 the supporting wall 20 may extend over any countersunk portions 2| and be substantially flush with the top of the longitudinal bars It. Or there may be no countersunk portions 2| in which case the bars It] may have their top edge visible where these bars extend over the wall 20.

Fig. 21 shows a preformed wall section made from a grating of the general type shown in Fig. 7 having spacing portions 23 adjacent the opposite edges of the longitudinal bars. For the depth of the spacing portions the grating or slab is filled with concrete 25 and between the concrete layers is provided thermal insulating material 24 of any approved kind and form either loose or moulded. The facings 26 and 2'! are of plaster or any usual and appropriate material and are optional. Likewise the thermal insulating is not necessary but preferable. The bars in a wall section are much lighter than in a section which has to support a moving or static load on top of a series of bars.

A means of connecting a typical slab or grating section under this invention with another is illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23. The longitudinal bars 28 have countersunk portions 29 on which rest the end of a bent spacing portion 30. The ends 3| of adjacent longitudinal bars are preferably offset and arranged as shown in Fig. 22 for cooperation with the end portions of longitudinal bars in the next section. The contiguous portions of the longitudinal bars are joined by either rivets 32 or welding for extending the bars longitudinally. The grating may be extended laterally as shown in Figs, 1 to 19.

Among the advantages of this invention may be mentioned that the slab is adapted for use as a grating or in a wall or fioor construction, or it may be filled with cementitious material so that the grating portions constitute a reinforcement for the slab. It will be understood that the slab may be used without any cementitious material filling the spaces between the longitudinal bars. A noteworthy feature of this invention is the simplicity and cheapness of fabrication since all of the members are formed in the same way and the spacing portions are stamped out and bent from the longitudinal members. In the embodiments illustrated in the first sheet of drawings there is a less tendency to rust due to capillary action because the contacting surfaces at the end of the spacing members has been reduced to a minimum, there being much less area of abutting surfaces than in the usual type grating.

Still another substantial advantage of this invention is that when the slab is filled with concrete or other cementitious material, the portion of the material between one pair of longitudinal bars is keyed to that between other pairs by the cementitious material which extends over the countersunk or cut-out portion from which the spacing bar has been stamped. Unlike many of the usual gratings, the cementitious filling between the longitudinal bars is all connected and not isolated. When the slab is filled with cementitious material, the face of such material will be continuous and jogged or stepped with the metal appearing as longitudinally disconnected members. The ends of the grating resting on a support may be countersunk or may extend up flush with the tops of the longitudinal bars according to the construction desired. The non-continuous lines of longitudinal members which are exposed provide good traction surfaces in cooperation with the spacing members regardless of whether a vehicle or person be going along or across the longitudinal bars. A slab constructed as illustrated and filled with cementitious material will carry a floor load and the slap grating or reinforce may function as an armoring. Other constructions and uses are possible for the slab in this invention.

This slab provides a grating which is continuous both longitudinally and laterally without any change in surface configuration. That is the grating may be made as long and as wide as desired by adding sections at the ends and at the sides without the connections changing the surface appearance. Looked at in another way, a bar of great length formed by joining several shorter bars may be secured sequentially to an adjacent bar without there being any difference in the previous surface pattern, appearance or design.

The top surface of all bars is not continuous longitudinally and therefore this construction provides a good surface for reducing any tendency to slip in moving along any bar. The construction in Fig. 18 is not only discontinuous on the surface longitudinally but also laterally, forming surface islands of metal not connected on the surface with any other island of metal. This is especially desirable in constructions having cementitious filling between the bars, since an enhanced bond is provided between all such filling portions.

I claim:

1. A slab comprising a number of longitudinal, parallel members, spacing members stamped and bent from an outer or upper edge portion of each longitudinal member, of less depth than the longitudinal members, and secured to an adjacent longitudinal member, the countersunk longitudinal edge of a longitudinal member in the portion from which a spacing member has been stamped constituting a support for the connected end of a spacing member from an adjacent longitudinal member 2. A slab comprising a number of longitudinal, parallel members, spacing members stamped and bent from an outer or upper edge portion of each longitudinal member, of less depth than the longitudinal members, and secured to an adjacent longitudinal member and having countersunk edge portions, the spacing members being so bent that when cementitious material is filled in between the longitudinal members such material, between one pair of longitudinal members, is keyed together, over the countersunk edge portions of the longitudinal members, to that between an adjacent pair of longitudinal members.

3. A slab comprising a number of longitudinal, parallel members, spacing members stamped and bent from an outer or upper edge portion of each longitudinal member, of less depth than the longitudinal members, and secured to an adjacent longitudinal member by overlapping and. being secured to a spacing member stamped from an adjacent longitudinal member.

4. A slab comprising parallel longitudinal members, spacing members stamped and bent from the edges of longitudinal members for cooperation with adjacent longitudinal members, the ends of some of the spacing members which are bent away from their integral longitudinal member being provided with projection and recess connections with adjacent longitudinal members, said connections being formed in stamping out the spacing members.

5. A slab including a grating having parallel longitudinal members and spacing members therebetween, the improvement for enhancing the tractive surface of the grating which comprises a portion of the outer edge of each longitudinal member and spacing members integral and discontinuous both longitudinally and laterally.

6. A grating slab comprising a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinal fiat metallic bars and metallic spacing and connecting members between said bars, the members in adjacent spaces between the bars extending in opposite directions, the upper edges of said bars and members being discontinuous both longitudinally and laterally whereby said edges form a wearing surface comprising isolated islands of metal forming an overall pattern.

7. A grating slab comprising a plurality of parallel longitudinal bars, each of which has a portion stamped from an upper edge thereof and laterally bent for spacing adjacent bars, a slot and stud connection between the free end of the spacing portion and the bar adjacent thereto, the lower edge of said spacing portion being adapted to rest on the upper surface of the cutaway portion of said adjacent bar, all of said .bars being similarly spaced and connected for providing a uniform surface configuration.

EMANUEL GRAY. 

